In Arvind Kejriwal cheating case, Delhi HC calls on Centre

SummaryThe Delhi High Court today sought the Centre's assistance in hearing a plea for a direction to CBI to register a case of cheating against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for allegedly misleading the voters by making "false promises" in the poll manifesto.

The Delhi High Court today sought the Centre's assistance in hearing a plea for a direction to CBI to register a case of cheating against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for allegedly misleading the voters by making "false promises" in the poll manifesto.

A bench of Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justice R S Endlaw asked Additional Solicitor General Rajeeve Mehra to assist the court on the issue raised in the PIL which also seeks action against other Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) members, including Education Minister Manish Sisodia.

During the proceedings, the petitioner alleged before the court that AAP had misled the citizens of Delhi by making false promises in its manifesto in a bid to enjoy power and benefits.

On this, the bench queried whether it is wrong to make promises during election campaign, to which the petitioner, advocate M L Sharma replied, "they should not make a promise which they do not have the power to enforce or implement".

Sharma contended Arvind Kejriwal had in his election campaign promised to reduce electricity tariffs by 50 per cent when neither the Delhi government nor the Lt Governor has the power to do so.

"Yet, Delhi government makes these promises. It is a clear case of cheating under section 420 of IPC," he said.